Emergency resolution: FBU attendance at joint health and safety committees

Conference notes the legal advice received by the union from Thompsons on 24 April 2017 on health and safety representation.

This advice arose from the findings of the inquest into the death of Bro Stephen Hunt, where coroner Mr Meadows recognised the importance of joint health and safety committees established under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees (SRSC) Regulations 1977 and the associated code of practice. 

Conference notes that the union’s recall conference on 21 March 2017 agreed to vigorously pursue the shortcomings in safety arrangements, training, PPE and other operational concerns with emergency medical response (EMR). The recall conference also agreed that local committees should oversee EMR trials and that joint health and safety committees in each fire and rescue service are the most appropriate forum to undertake this role.

Conference reaffirms the union’s commitment to high standards of health and safety consultation to protect all firefighters and the public. 

Conference agrees to ensure that competent joint health and safety committees are established in each fire and rescue service with full FBU participation in all cases as the major fire service trade union. This should conform to the norms and practices of the SRSC Regulations so that the FBU, through our safety representatives, can maximise our efforts to protect firefighters whichever fire and rescue service they work in.